Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff
HONOLULU
Swimmer dies at beach park
A 66-year-old man died after he was pulled unconscious from the water off Ala Moana Beach Park yesterday.
Police said the man had gone swimming, but was found face-down about 9:40 a.m. The man was unresponsive when he was brought to shore and was pronounced dead. Family members told police the man had a history of heart problems.
CENTRAL O'AHU
Two injured in traffic accidents
Two people were critically injured last night in separate traffic accidents on O'ahu.
The first accident occurred about 8:15 p.m. on Kamehameha Highway near the Hawai'i Okinawa Center in Waipi'o. Details were not available, but at least one person was hospitalized in critical condition.
Police closed Kamehameha Highway between Ka Uka Boulevard and Lanikuhana Avenue while they conducted their investigation.
Shortly after 9 p.m., a pedestrian was struck and critically injured at Ala Wai Boulevard and McCully Street. Information on that accident also was sketchy last night.
EAST HONOLULU
Blood drive set for Hawai'i Kai
The Blood Bank of Hawai'i will hold a blood drive called "Hawai'i Kai Cares" from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 12 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Lunalilo Home Road.
The event is being sponsored by the church, the Hawai'i Kai Lions Club, Rotary and Jaycees. Area restaurants will provide refreshments and Kaiser High School students will perform. Posters created by Koko Head Elementary sixth-graders will be displayed at the entrance to Foodland at Koko Marina Center.
Donating takes about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours and includes some paperwork and a mini-physical. Donors must be in good health, 18 and older, weigh more than 110 pounds and have a valid photo ID. For more information, call 845-9966.
Board chairman reappointed
The Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board re-appointed Charlie Rodgers as chairman of the 15-member elected board.
Rodgers, a Kalama Valley resident, will be serving his 10th year as chairman. Other officers named were Brett White, vice chairman; Mary Houghton, secretary; and Bob Clark, treasurer. The board meets on the last Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Haha'ione Elementary School cafeteria, 595 Pepe'ekeo St.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Dead woman found in water
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — A 69-year-old Florida woman was pronounced dead after beachgoers found her floating unconscious in the water at Makua Beach Sunday morning.
Firefighters and lifeguards performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation without success. The woman's name was not released, and an autopsy is scheduled.
30-year veteran named fire chief
WAILUKU, Maui — Veteran Maui firefighter Carl Kaupalolo yesterday was named county fire chief.
Kaupalolo has been with the Maui Fire Department for nearly 30 years and currently holds the rank of battalion chief. He will be sworn in to the $80,000-a-year job Aug. 1.
Kaupalolo was the first chief selected by the Maui County Fire and Public Safety Commission, which was created by charter amendment in the 2002 election.
Supreme Court disbars attorney
A former Kaua'i lawyer accused of pocketing clients' money and abandoning them in court was disbarred, state Supreme Court officials announced yesterday.
Thomas M. Medeiros, 57, had been suspended twice before by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. He is also accused of not filing appellate documents on his client's behalf and of failing to prosecute another client's civil proceedings.
The state office said Medeiros took retainer payments from his client and spent the money without completing the case.
